16 Things You Didn't Know About Shake Shack

Shake Shack

Things you know about Shake Shack: it has great burgers. Things you probably don't know about Shake Shack: anything that isn't the having-great-burgers thing. That's why we compiled this list of 16 things you should know about Danny Meyer's titular NYC burger chain, so you can drop some knowledge the next time you're in line for a SmokeShack and need to kill some time.

Shake Shack

1. Shake Shack began as a hot dog cart in NYC's Madison Square Park
In support of the Madison Square Park Conservancy’s first-ever art installation, "I Heart Taxi", the cart was open for three straight Summers from 2001-2003. The permanent kiosk didn't actually open until June 2004. #TheMoreYouKnow

2. There's a separate window for booze and shakes
If you're waiting on line at the original location, go up and grab a beer and a milkshake, then get back in line for your burger.

3. Aziz Ansari is a big fan
He's said one of the things he misses most about NYC is "not my friends so much", but rather, Shake Shack. And yes, this is a video of him giving an interview while waiting in line for burgers at the Madison Square Park location.

4. Danny Meyer drew the idea for the "roadside burger stand" on the back of a napkin
And thankfully, he didn't then use it to wipe burger juice off his face.

Shake Shack

5. They've got a signature beer that's made exclusively for them by Brooklyn Brewery
It's called Shackmeister Ale, a name given to it by BK Brewery's head brewmaster Garrett Oliver. They've also got their own wine made at Frog's Leap Winery, which is cool, but not gets-its-own-numbered-headline-in-this-story cool.

6. NYC has the most locations, but tied for second are Dubai (duh) and Istanbul (obviously)
They've got four each, beating DC, Philly, and Miami.

9. Danny Meyer said both Steak 'n Shake and Crown Candy Kitchen influenced the type of burger stand he wanted to open
You know, Crown Candy Kitchen. "St. Louis's oldest soda fountain", aka a place in St. Louis you now kinda want to actually visit.

Shake Shack

12. Shake Shack breakfast sandwiches exist
There's a sausage, egg & cheese, a bacon, egg & cheese, and just an egg & cheese, all served on toasted potato buns. Unfortunately, the JFK Airport Shake Shack in Terminal 4 and Grand Central are the only locations in the world that serve them.

Shack Shack

13. Shake Shack launched a group running club in March 2013 called Shack Track and Field
They do a run once a month in NYC, Philly, DC, and Miami where you get free beers and burgers at participating Shacks at the end of the run. Definitely don't just show up at the end of one of these with running clothes on and pretend you've been running though. Yeah... definitely.

14. They also have a table tennis league
But before you get too excited (crap, too late! Stop being so excited!), it's not in NYC -- it's in Coral Gables. The Shake Shack table tennis league (launched in February) is open to the general public and totally free. Tournaments are held once a month and run in a bracket-style format with the winner taking home a $75 gift card, and the soon-to-be-coveted "Golden Paddle" trophy, which they hopefully use to eat burgers.

15. As of 2009, the Manhattan Shacks outpace even McDonald's in sales per restaurant
That's according to a NY Times article that says they pull in an average of $4 million a year each, compared to McD's $2.29 million.

Located at Grand Central Station, this Shake Shack location is just as tasty as the original, doling out the seriously delicious burgers, shakes, custard & dogs that have made it a Big Apple institution.

The long-awaited UWS outpost boasts two stories w/ 72 seats, a new "c-line" to expedite cold item purchases, all the original's burgers, plus new drinks: three vanilla and chocolate milkshakes, Abita root beer on tap, two exclusive wines developed by Marq

Serving up standbys like the ShackBurger and the Chi-style Shack-cago dog, the newest outlet in Meyer's empire also has 'hood-inspired Concretes (dense frozen custard mixed) like a chocolate joint w/ peanut butter & marshmallaw sauces and chocolate-covere

Easy access to Central Park and the Pineapple Upper East Side Cake means that if you've been to one Shake Shack you actually haven't been to them all. Of course you'll still be able to snag your french fries dipped in salted carmel house-named burger at this join.

Slightly shorter lines than other locations mean slightly less time between you and your beloved Shroomburger. Though cheese fries and milkshakes are no doubt the perfect double date, we know it's all about the Shroomburger.

The home of the New York Mets since 2009. With about 42,000 seats, world-class dining (and Shake Shack!), and other amenities (wide-open concourses, the Shea Bridge, the Jackie Robinson Rotunda...), Citi is a modern stadium for everyone from the die-hard fan to the die-hard fan's uninterested girlfriend.